Roaster Jack Coffee

A conversation with Jack Davis of Roaster Jack Coffee is akin to a good cup of coffee - warm, balanced and energizing first thing in the morning.

Jack was born and raised in Traverse City, but traded Michigan for Montana after high school to attend college and snowboard. As fate would have it, Jack became roommates with a friend who worked as a coffee roaster. Over time, his college and snowboarding schedule evolved into a snowboarding and coffee schedule as Jack watched and learned more and more from his roommate and began roasting coffee himself. As his education and experience progressed, it became clear to Jack that he wanted to start his own coffee roasting company.

Around this time Jack met the woman who was to become his future wife, and the two returned to Michigan to research the coffee scene and make plans for moving back and setting up shop. The couple finally moved back to Michigan for good in 2001 and began their business in the garage where they stayed for 5 years, steadily increasing production until they were bursting at the seams. In 2006 Roaster Jack Coffee moved into a new building off of Silver Lake Road in Traverse City where they still reside today.

The design of the new facility is modeled after a winery complete with tasting room. Similar to a tasting room, visitors may sample the different roasts available, learn about coffee production processes, and purchase beans and coffee brewing supplies. The only thing they can’t do is buy a cup of coffee. As Jack puts it “we want people to regard this space as a knowledge base to make great coffee at home.” The Roaster Jack facility also serves as the training lab for area hospitality staff and is the test site for all research and development of the brand.

If you ever get the chance to visit the Roaster Jack tasting room yourself – you should do it. The depth of coffee knowledge, ease of conversation, friendliness of the staff all contribute to a really pleasant experience. And the coffee is excellent.